One of our ODOT officials made this statement:
Quote:
Emamian, a Transportation Department engineer who designed the cable barriers, said no median barrier can stop a truck from crossing into oncoming traffic.
"None of the barriers are designed for semis," he said. "All the barriers are designed for cars."
But Emamian is confident the cable barrier -- the first designed and installed in the United States -- is safer than the traditional guardrail and concrete barriers.
The impact of a car hitting the concrete barrier will be transferred to the driver, Emamian said.
If a car hits a concrete barrier, it will most likely bounce back into traffic, causing a second accident.
"It's like hitting a brick wall," he said.
When a car hits a cable barrier, the cable transfers a lot of the energy, he said.
|
I completely disagree with this guy. Concrete barriers do prevent major accidents. A head on collision is much worse than the truck being thrown back into traffic. That would be a broadside accident, or at worst, a rear end accident. A head on accident multiplies the force by two.
Also, he states that concrete barriers don't stop semis. Again, I disagree. I've never seen a semi go off a bridge on the Ft. Smith junction, although I've seen many semis hit the concrete wall. His first statement is wrong.